An undercover investigation by the Express has exposed the alarming ease with which illegal migrants can secure boat crossings to the UK. The reporter, posing as a migrant, found a smuggler just two hours after arriving at a French camp, where Kurdish traffickers openly negotiated prices for crossings. The cost was set at £1,500, with smugglers also selling substandard lifejackets and drugs in a makeshift market. Despite the presence of French police, who focused on dismantling migrant tents rather than arresting smugglers, the operations continued unabated. The investigation has raised serious concerns about the effectiveness of UK funding aimed at curbing these activities, prompting calls from UK officials for increased action against traffickers. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp criticized the French police for their lack of action, while a Home Office spokesperson highlighted ongoing efforts to combat smuggling, including over 100 live investigations by the National Crime Agency.